Trail Work/Maint. Announcements

November 09, 2006

PJ is leading another work group into the woods. The workday will be 11-22, the day before Thanksgiving. We will meet at the back of Manoa and head up the trail at daybreak- 6:30 ish? I'll pin the time down when we get nearer to the day.

If that is an awful day for everyone, the only other day I have is Monday 11-20. Anyone planning on joining me, please let me know if Wednesday is ok. I need to know soon so I can plan on picking up our tools.

We will hike to nearly the top, and work down- similarly to what we did in Nuuanu. We'll work till about 11:00 or 11:30, if we hold up that long.

October 23, 2006

A big Mahalo to all of you who replied to the recent request for trail work volunteers!

Just a short post with the particulars:

1. Date: Saturday, 28 October 2006

2. Time: 0800

3. Meet: At bottom of concrete road. Parking topside will be tight, so in the interest of combining training w/work, some of you may elect to park below by the pumping station and run/hike up. There is also parking at the bottom of Puu Ohia trail further up the road past concrete.

4. Bring: Water, bug spray, sunscreen, lunch, etc.

5. Tools: Arrangements have been made to pick up tools and return same to baseyard. Tools will be delivered topside where we will meet (look for my red truck).

6. Scope of work: After distribution of tools, we will hike up to the top of concrete road (still more training). The day's plan is to break into groups, then work our way down from the old trex sign on Manoa Cliffs to the intersection of Kalawahine/Manoa Cliffs trails. Work crews will concentrate on grading in deeply rutted sections of trail and grooming. If we are fortunate to have enough help, we will dedicate one crew to repairing the badly eroded section just below our last major repair job.

Please feel free to pass this message on to anyone you think may be interested in helping - my sincere apologies if I have inadvertently left someone off this post.

Would appreciate a definite reply from those planning to come by Wednesday, 25 October - need to bring enough tools for all.

October 10, 2006

Please don't forget to add these important dates announced earlier for trail work to your calendar: October 28 and December 2.Mike Garicawill be organizing two work days as described in more detail here.

It is important that we have a good turnout of volunteers to help get the trails in shape for the HURT 100 in January. Mike will be posting more information soon.

September 28, 2006

On 9-26, the first HURT 100 trail maintenance group (the MMs) met in the dark, and the rain, at Jackass Ginger. We carried tools and backpacks at 6:10 am, across the raging Nuuanu Stream, up to the top of the switchbacks on Nuuanu Trail.

With Aaron's hoes,rakes, and picks, we hacked out slide areas to widen the trail, raked and raked little rubbly areas, cut a few drains to let water flow off the trail, cleared a blocked waterfall on the trail to let the water run free, raked a BIG rubbly area that consisted of about a two foot deep layer of baseball sized rocks, cut in a few steps, and trimmed a few overhanging rubbish plants over the trail.

We finished about 11:30, feeling a little dirty and trashed, but very satisfied about our accomplishment. Wish we had had a few minutes to run back up and down the trail to enjoy our handy work, but that will have to wait until our next trip to the trail. Chances are we'll have to go back and re-rake right before the race, but at least the trail will be a little safer during training for the 100.

September 20, 2006

I'll be heading up the MMs (Morning Menahune) for occasional workdays, and coordinating the weekday trail work plans with Aaron. (Mike will be coordinating the heavier weekend workdays already scheduled).

By the way, I met Aaron this Monday to discuss our intended Nuuanu trail work, and he gave us some very good suggestions, including engineering instructions for some minor grading around the slide areas. I'll pass that on to you on the trail, and we will include that with our main efforts of rubble raking .

We are NOW formally scheduled for work on Wednesday morning, Sept.27.- We will meet and park on Nuuanu Pali Hwy, just below the "Y" where it splits off into Old Pali Rd., for a 6 am departure to the Jackass Ginger trail head. (Maybe we will see the LOST crew filming one of these days).

We will head towards the top of the switchbacks to target a few work areas, and work down from there in small groups.

Please bring gloves, LOTS of water, and a snack to sustain you through the morning. We won't work past 11:30 am.

Ineed a headcount please, no later than Monday, so I can pick up the tools from Aaron on Tuesday. Cheryl, Mike M, Carl Wooten, have already indicated they can attend(please reconfirm), but we need a few more.

Aaron is very grateful for our interest in grooming the HURT100 trails this season. So, if any of us see a problem on the trails that we want to correct during the weekday, please send me a brief description of the work and location intended, so I get it into an email to Aaron. That way he will have the opportunity to add his input if he needs to, and he will also be informed if anyone calls him to ask what's going on in any given trail work area. I thought that was a fair request, and would benefit us of Aaron's trail expertise in certain work areas. (My contact info: hurtpals@aol.com / 235-0577)

Until Aaron is able to hire another "tech" for the one he lost, we need to take a more pro-active role in maintaining HURT100 trails. We understand that Aaron is working through the cumbersome process of hiring another employee....it is definitely in the works. After not finding a suitable employee "in house" (which the State requires they search first), they are interviewing additional applicants).

I should mention that there are a few areas that are being reforested on the Tantalus trails- the main one by an interested botanical group, in the area just below the TTT high point on Manoa Cliff Trail, down towards what used to be "the map sign". They are cutting cinnamon trees, and weeding in order to make room for the Hawaiian trees and plants- already there have been more Koa seedlings sprouting, several Hawaiian ferns, etc, in the area, due totheir hard efforts.

If we ever plan to do overgrowth clearings, we need to be aware of the native plants, and stay away from the areas where the botanical folks are working.

September 14, 2006

In preparation for HURT VII next January 13-14, 2007, listed below is a schedule of trail work we would like to accomplish.

Your kokua would be most appreciated!

1. Middle of last week in September '06: Rake down Nuuanu Trail.

2. Saturday, 28 October '06: Regrade badly eroded section of Manoa Cliffs (area just below the section HURT members regraded last year). If we have enough volunteers, we can also groom trail from the start of Manoa Cliffs (just off Kalawahine) up to the trex sign on the same day!

3. Saturday, 2 December '06: Grade and swale Aihualama. Primary focus will be relieving areas that are eroded and trapping water just before the bamboo forest. Again, if we have enough volunteers, we can also groom Aihualama Trail (start at Leon's pie-stand) down to Manoa Falls.

4. Middle of last week in December '06: Rake down and groom Nuuanu Trail again as required.

5. Saturday, 6 January '07: Light grooming/touch-up as required.

Start times/meeting locations will be posted on the blog. Reminders will be emailed to those interested in helping.

Since we must check-out work tools from the DLNR Baseyard, we will need an accurate head count. So...

*If you can make any of the mid-week work dates, please email PJ: HURTPals@aol.com

August 14, 2006

I received a report that some unauthorized trail workwas performed on part of the Maunawili Out 'n Back course sometime last week.

Am not sure who did the work. I sincerely apologize in advance if this does not apply to any of our runners.

Please be aware that any such activity must be approved in advance by DLNR, propertraining held, safety gear issued, waivers signed, etc.

Besides inadvertent cutting of native plants, there is a tremendous liability issue to the State if anyone on the work party or perhaps a bystander gets injured. Such unauthorized activity may jeopardize HURT's relationship w/DLNR and could result in cancellation or restriction of our trail races.

May 18, 2006

A. Beginning May 22, 2006 the Kanealole and Maunalaha trailhead access will be closed. Construction work for ADA compliance will be ongoing for a minimum of 4-5 months (weather permitting).

This means:

1. The small concrete bridge (HURT 100 Start) will be closed off for renovation.

2. Old restrooms will be closed for renovation and installation of a new leaching field. Handicap parking will be constructed. Some of the large trees near the restrooms will be removed.

3. Runners/hikers can access the trail through the bamboo thicket just below and to the right of the new Nature Center building. Aaron has already cut a new trail and signs will be posted. Be prepared to cross the stream.

4. Porta-potties will be available in the lower parking area.

If the bridge and restrooms are not reopened we may have to make some modifications to the Start/Finish for HURT VII. The new Nature Center structure now has electrical power, but NC will not be able to get a C.O. (Certificate of Occupancy) from the City until the ADA work has been completed and accepted. Their staff is requesting a temporary C.O.

March 31, 2006

Congratulations again to those who ran and crewed RTS! Mahalo to BIG John and Bram for putting the race together - great job!

The NAHTC met on Tuesday, March 21st at the Makiki Baseyard. Here are some pertinent points for us:

1. The feral pig population is increasing dramatically. To bring the situation under control, allowing pig hunting for one full year is being considered. The Manoa neighborhood board will meet at Manoa Rec. Center on 12 April to discuss this issue - this meeting is open to the general public. Currently, pig hunting is allowed in selected areas only on Tuesdays/Thursdays during selected periods.

If the new policy is adopted, we will see hunters and their dogs on weekends as we train and race. Signs will be posted. Please be prepared - be especially careful if you bring your dogs along for a run.

2. The MOU (memorandum of agreement) has been signed for Poamohu trail. Access will be by permit only. We have seen a map and photos of the area - it's very nice and very runnable!